Preparations of the Y/O- November 2020

[Kintamayama 47,384]

1 hour ago, pricklypomegranate said:

Thanks @Kintamayama for being so speedy for the past two days.

 

You are welcome- please keep doing these-you're doing a great job.

[RabidJohn 2,074]

@Kintamayama & @pricklypomegranate Your posts complement each other's, and now you're complimenting each other's posts.

Please continue the former - and get a room for the latter! 

[Kintamayama 47,384]

Yeah, he's back..

[Seiyashi 4,109]

3 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

He knows the situation is grave

Was this a pun? XD

[Kintamayama 47,384]

1 hour ago, Seiyashi said:

Was this a pun? XD

It always is, even when it isn't..

[Shinobi Steve 146]

3 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Yeah, he's back..

I’ve missed seeing those post-bout Hokuho love taps. It seems like he is feeling pretty good these last few days. Fingers are crossed we’ll see him next month. 

[pricklypomegranate 730]

@RabidJohn Aww... 

Someone very important was missing at degeiko today. Very late, but here is the latest on Takakeisho - the picture below is from the Sumo Kyokai Twitter. Please enjoy Takakeisho working with the dumbbells: 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202010060000474.html

Takakeisho did not come for the group degeiko today. Instead, he remained at Chiganoura-beya working on the basics. Earlier on, he said he wanted to decide on a plan and follow it through, so here are the results: 

Takakeisho: [On his plan] "The only thing left is to increase the power of my push, which I will work on. I must win [November] as I am an Ozeki." 

Epilogue 

Here on Herouth's Twitter you can see two of Hakuho's bouts with Mitakeumi - with a leg trip and delicious ankle grab. 

Edited October 20, 2020 by pricklypomegranate

[Hakuryuho 335]

6 hours ago, pricklypomegranate said:

Here on Herouth's Twitter you can see two of Hakuho's bouts with Mitakeumi - with a leg trip and delicious ankle grab. 

I just love seeing the GOAT Hakuho having fun 

[pricklypomegranate 730]

5 hours ago, Hakuryuho said:

I just love seeing the GOAT Hakuho having fun 

Well, knowing Hakuho's playful and Mitakeumi's joyful personality and also the lack of warnings after, I hope the ankle grab was just in jest as he could have seriously injured that oyakata there. I know no harm, no foul, but he I just wish he wouldn't do these wholly unnecessary and unsafe things. 

[Kintamayama 47,384]

Shoudai was called upon by Hakuhou today at the Kyokai training camp, resulting in a 1-19 thrashing. "I feel I am not hitting well.." he said later, somewhat an understatement, regarding his tachiai. Before the bouts he warmed up going 3-2 against various opponents. Grand total of the day? 4-21. "It's totally different from a basho, the keiko-ba. I'm just glad I got through it without injury.. Two weeks left till the basho starts, so hopefully I will be ready by then. "  The more bouts between them, the more Hakuhou was dominant. Whatever Shoudai tried, Hakuhou countered. "I did it! It was good keiko! " said Hakuhou later. No signs of his right knee injury that led to surgery. "It's still a bit stiff, but I thought if that's the extent of it, I can work with it," he added. He said he was joining the camp to find his spirit. How spirited was Shoudai? "I'll leave that to your imagination.." he summed. That's 43 bouts in two days for Hakuhou. "I started remembering all kinds of things from the past, so I guess that may account for the large number of bouts," he said cryptically. Takakeishou was absent again.

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by Kintamayama

[pricklypomegranate 730]

It's the last day of the joint degeiko. Let's see what the rikishi themselves have to say... 

Sources

https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/sports/sumou/2323338/

https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/sumo/news/202010220000275.html

https://hochi.news/articles/20201022-OHT1T50090.html

https://www.nikkansports.com/m/battle/sumo/news/amp/202010220000674.html

Takakeisho and Shodai did not show up for degeiko today. The newspapers did note Hakuho's perfect attendance, despite his injury and age. With the lack of Ozeki prey, Hakuho calmed down and got into a charitable mood giving advice to Kiribayama (see above) and sticking to basic exercises. 

Hakuho: [on joint degeiko] "Though I had a little discomfort and anxiety over my knee, it is nothing major. I'm glad I finished this week without any injuries and without wasting this opportunity. I tried to rebuild my body and regain my sumo sense. Through this, I hope I can make a comeback [in November]."

Additional [potentially worrying] information about Asanoyama has cropped up. 

Source: https://www.nikkansports.com/m/battle/sumo/news/amp/202010220000674.html

Asanoyama: [On not coming for the degeiko] "I have read articles theorising why I did not come for group practice. Well, I thought about what works well for me and did it in the heya. I will continue to work hard between now and shoinichi." 

Asanoyama: [On not allowing press into Takasago-beya today] "I'm sorry, but I wanted to concentrate today. Weight along is meaningless - it needs speed to accompany it. The number of spectators is increasing and it gives rikishi more of an incentive. I want to work hard and make sure I do not do shameful sumo."

No evidence about Asanoyama being secretive, but hmm. 

Also, Shodai and Asanoyama should follow the aforementioned showbiz advice and don't read (or at least don't read too closely) their reviews. 

Epilogue 

Here is some video footage of Shodai and Hakuho's bouts yesterday on Twitter. 

Edited October 22, 2020 by pricklypomegranate

[Kintamayama 47,384]

 Takakeishou left the Kyokai training camp two days ago, never to return. "I have to go about it while listening to my body. I am the person who knows his own situation the best. That's the way I will be doing it, " he said. No sumo today, just barbells and dumbbells, squats and fundamentals and 100 pushups leaning on the elevated podium of the keiko-ba. "I still have to work on my stability, do some more bouts, and face the coming basho," he summed.

 

Showing Makushita Takakentou how to strengthen his upper body:

 

Edited October 22, 2020 by Kintamayama

[since_94 650]

On 20/10/2020 at 17:47, Kintamayama said:

Yeah, he's back..

The Sumo world, in a nutshell, since Asashoryu’s retirement 

[Katsunorifuji 65]

9 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

 Takakeishou left the Kyokai training camp two days ago, never to return. "I have to go about it while listening to my body. I am the person who knows his own situation the best. That's the way I will be doing it, " he said. No sumo today, just barbells and dumbbells, squats and fundamentals and 100 pushups leaning on the elevated podium of the keiko-ba. "I still have to work on my stability, do some more bouts, and face the coming basho," he summed.

 

Showing Makushita Takakentou how to strengthen his upper body:

 

Should this be interpreted that he’s not 100% and this basho will be a struggle? 

[Jakusotsu 6,403]

9 hours ago, Katsunorifuji said:

Should this be interpreted that he’s not 100% and this basho will be a struggle? 

Nobody will ever be 100%, and each basho is a struggle.

[Kintamayama 47,384]

Kakuryuu is cemetery cemetery  "getting there slowly". Kiribayama was out today because of shoulder pains, so Kakuryuu did only the fundamentals, lending his chest to the lower rankers.  "I'm gradually getting there. I think I'm feeling fine.. All I can do is not to put much physical burden on myself and go about it carefully. Regarding the next basho, I will start doing some sumo and see how it goes. I'll see if I can do things I can usually do.." he said. He can't go to the gym, something he does regularly. "In these times, it all seems to fall apart.. As a Yokozuna, I know I have to stand on the dohyo and go about it seriously. I'm able to be with my kids a lot, so I'm enjoying that. The fact that I can't go out freely is something I can do nothing about. My last son was just born, so I have to pay attention and be more careful,"  he added.  The only real breather he has is to take his kids to the neighborhood park. The whole heya got flu shots yesterday. The YDC issued a warning that he better shape up as did his Oyakata.. "To answer that, all I can do is show results. The fact that I'm being talked to is something I can do nothing about," he retorted.  He is an avid NBA fan. "I was able to watch the finals a bit on my mobile phone. Watching the Lakers and LeBron,  it was pretty clear they were going to yusho so it wasn't that interesting.. Still, seeing Lebron gambarize as he did at his age (35, same age as Kakuryuu), although it is a different sport, was a huge stimulus. It seemed he just couldn't lose. All I can do is try to show a healthy me as well,." said Kakuryuu.

<cough> 100% kyujo</cough>/

Edited October 27, 2020 by Kintamayama

[Seiyashi 4,109]

On 23/10/2020 at 16:58, Jakusotsu said:

Nobody will ever be 100%, and each basho is a struggle.

The question is always who will struggle more than others.

[Kintamayama 47,384]

Shoudai trained at home today, concentrating on strengthening his upper body via weights. "Seeing your name on the banzuke as an Ozeki is a totally different feeling. I hope I can keep up with the pace from here on. I'll be facing the Makushita rikishi and will be working on improving my mobility, " he said. He intends to work on his too-high tachiai, concentrating on moving forward and hitting hard, hoping to be ready for the coming basho. His hometown of Kumamoto was struck by an earthquake 4 years ago and suffered from torrential rains this summer that caused a lot of damage. "I don't want to sound too pompous, but I just hope everyone retains the will to carry on," he summed.

Edited October 27, 2020 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,384]

Takakeishou : "I am very happy that more spectators will be allowed in. Doing sumo in front of a crowd empowers you. The more, the bigger incentive it is. It's something to be thankful for. Being a pro, you have to go all out no matter what the circumstances are, but it's better if there are spectators and it increases one's power tenfold," he explained. As for the Kyokai Kamp, where he faced Shoudai for 35 bouts and won most: "I faced the yusho winner, and I think I did well." His heyamate Takanoshou was promoted to Sekiwake. "He has become much stronger so he was promoted to Sekiwake. He used to go a lot for degeiko in the past. Nothing like facing your possible opponents to learn their moves," he added. There hasn't been an Ozeki yusho since Kisenosato in Hatsu 2017. "I'm patient, but I'm facing each basho and training with the yusho in mind - the wish to yusho is always there," he explained.

[Kintamayama 47,384]

Komusubi Terunofuji is shifting gears in his quest to return to Ozeki. "The next three basho are important, and if there's a chance, I'd like to grab it.. I'm 29? There are people who become stronger when they reach 30. I'll be thinking of those cases as I make my way towards my goal. At my age I can still get stronger. All I can do is gambarize. I don't think I can carry on doing sumo much longer with my injuries, though. I feel like I'm going at it with a ticking bomb inside me. Anything can happen at any given moment, so all I can do is do my best basho by basho," he said.

[Kintamayama 47,384]

Ozeki Shoudai will turn 29 in a week. "Truth be told, I'm not young anymore, so i have to really take care of my body seriously, much more than before.. Well, if I can continue till I'm about 35, that would be cool.. I always hoped to be able to do sumo for a long time." he explained. He did train today , 10 bouts against five lower rankers today, lending his chest to them as well. He also received 20 kilos of beef and a lot of vegetables from his home town supporters.

Edited October 29, 2020 by Kintamayama

[Kintamayama 47,384]

8 hours ago, Kintamayama said:

Komusubi Terunofuji is shifting gears in his quest to return to Ozeki. 

Oops, wrong thread, but no one seemed to notice, or no one really cared, or maybe he's still an Ozeki in our collective minds.

Edited October 29, 2020 by Kintamayama

[pricklypomegranate 730]

The Kyokai has finally released a video compiling all the training videos and interviews of the degeiko. If anyone can translate please help. Enjoy. 

 

Edited October 30, 2020 by pricklypomegranate

[Kintamayama 47,384]

Asanoyama trained at home today, doing 20 bouts against makushita and under heyamates. "I'm getting there gradually. It goes without saying that I have to win at this rank. If I face things a bout a day, the results will follow. It's a week till shonichi, so I hope to forge my body by then," he said. He does weight training three times a week under the guidance of his personal trainer. "My body is weak so I need to do this," he explained. The coming USA elections and Trump was another subject, as was Trump's virus infection. "I hope he recovers fully and gambarizes. He is much larger than me," he said, remembering how he stood beside him on the dohyo and was awarded the Trump Trophy by the man himself when he won the yusho back in May 2019.

Asanoyama (not Trump) has 43 wins on the year, two less than Shoudai. "I'm not aiming for that, so.." he quipped. "Are you aiming for the toppermost of the poppermost rank?" asked the reporter. "You bet. I think that is the place I am aiming for," he summed.

[Kintamayama 47,384]

6 hours ago, pricklypomegranate said:

The Kyokai has finally released a video compiling all the training videos and interviews of the degeiko. If anyone can translate please help. Enjoy. 

 

Excellent video,  a must watch. I will try to follow all participants' records to see if these sessions helped.

Things I saw:

Takayasu is in great shape.

Aoiyama grunts well.

Kiribayama looks more experienced than he really is.

Hakuhou is scary.

Takakeishou is scared.

Interviews done face to face.

Shoudai trying hard, but not looking good.

Mitakeumi looks like he's trying.

Do we have a final roll call on the Makushita guys?

<bow>